Elizabeth Berkley has answers for MTV

Actress Elizabeth Berkley paints a portion of the Unity artworkas she attends the Art Heals benefit October 9, 2001 in Santa Monica.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - MTV is developing an unscripted project with actress Elizabeth Berkley and her husband, artist Greg Lauren, that is based on Ask-Elizabeth, the self-esteem workshops for teen girls that Berkley created.

Berkley has volunteered her time facilitating Ask-Elizabeth workshops in schools and for organizations around the country for 2 1/2 years. Her Web site, Ask-Elizabeth.com, features a library of video content intended to help empower girls worldwide.

The MTV project, with the working title "Ask-Elizabeth," is being developed in the network's News & Docs division. Amy Bailey, vice president of development in the department, said Berkley approached MTV with the idea.

"She does these workshops around the country with teen girls and gets them to really open up about their issues, like self-esteem and body issues," Bailey said. "We had been looking for a program that tackled the same issues, so it seemed like a perfect match."

MTV is hoping to shoot the pilot in the fall, Bailey said.

"It'll be more than just films of her workshops," Bailey said, adding that Berkley will be featured in the project while her husband will remain behind the scenes. "It'll probably be more verite, where we'll film with Elizabeth and girls around the country in their own hometowns and watch as the events unfold."

Berkley has a recurring role on CBS' "CSI: Miami" and hosts Bravo's "Step It Up and Dance." She recently wrapped production on the films "S. Darko" and "The Butler's in Love."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter